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BREAKING: This morning, a bill (S636) passed a Senate committee which would take dark campaign money and make it even darker.
The title is “Donor Privacy,” which right off the bat raises a red flag because this is an area that needs more transparency, not more privacy.
#ncpol
The title is “Donor Privacy,” which right off the bat raises a red flag because this is an area that needs more transparency, not more privacy.
#ncpol
In short, the bill says that non-profits can now conceal who their donors are.
Sounds harmless? Here’s what’s really going on:
It turns out, there are a lot of non-profits that are actually “non-profits” in that they exist primarily to funnel dark money into elections.
Sounds harmless? Here’s what’s really going on:
It turns out, there are a lot of non-profits that are actually “non-profits” in that they exist primarily to funnel dark money into elections.
So if you want to give a million dollars to a campaign, but you're blocked by the limitation on how much you can directly give to a candidate ($5,600 in NC), then you can give to a handy “non-profit” that will then spend it for you on that campaign.
And what was the defense given in committee by members of majority?
“Cancel culture.”
I’m serious. Three of them even made sure to use that phrase in their remarks.
“Cancel culture.”
I’m serious. Three of them even made sure to use that phrase in their remarks.
What they want you to believe is that this bill is about protecting small-dollar donors from retaliation by the “cancel” folks.
That’s pretty wild.
First, it gives the game away. It shows this isn’t really about non-profits, it’s about “non-profits” - i.e., political giving.
That’s pretty wild.
First, it gives the game away. It shows this isn’t really about non-profits, it’s about “non-profits” - i.e., political giving.
Second, these “non-profits” exist for folks who want to give in increments of $100,000, not small dollar folks.
And most people believe that as long as that money is going to sway elections - *which it certainly is* - we should darn well know where it's coming from.
And most people believe that as long as that money is going to sway elections - *which it certainly is* - we should darn well know where it's coming from.
But look - the “cancel culture” thing isn’t intended to be a serious argument. They don’t expect many people to actually believe it.
They just need some cover to pass a bill to help some mega-donors and big money groups.
They just need some cover to pass a bill to help some mega-donors and big money groups.
This all stems from Georgia.
They passed some voter suppression bills, a number of companies spoke out, which led to a round of bemoaning “cancel culture” on a particular news channel, and that created an opportunity to make dark money a little darker.
They passed some voter suppression bills, a number of companies spoke out, which led to a round of bemoaning “cancel culture” on a particular news channel, and that created an opportunity to make dark money a little darker.
Now that it’s passed the Senate committee that means it’s probably a lock to pass the full Senate, which means this bill is moving.
This is the absolute opposite of the direction we should be headed when it comes to money in politics.
-Jeff
This is the absolute opposite of the direction we should be headed when it comes to money in politics.
-Jeff
